Braking mechanism



3 Shetsh-Sheet l ATTORMYS.

Rf. L. BRowNlN-G BHAKING MECHANI SM Filed Oct. 6, 1943 en. 2m 1949 R. I .ABRowNlNG BRAKING ME'cHANIsM Filed Oct. 6, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet k2 f@ 9 f6 M Q4 INVENTOR.

TTNEYS.

Dec., 20, 1949 R, BRQWNING 2,491,850

BRAKING MEGHANISM Filed Oct. 6, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 3 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 20, 1949 BRAKING MECHANISM Richard L. Browning, Euclid, Ohio, assignor to Victor R. Browning & Company, Incorporated, Willoughby, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application October 6, 1943,Serial No. 505,089

(Cl. 18S-171) Claims. 1

This invention relates to a braking mechanism. In its preferred form it comprises a brake held inactive by means associated with the driving mechanism of the apparatus to which thegbrake is attached and rendered operative to retard or stop such apparatus upon the shutting down of the driving mechanism. The invention includes an automatic brake peculiarly adapted for use in connection with a hoist mechanism driven by an electric motor wherein a magnetic unit in circuit with the motor normally holds the brake inactive, but which serves to release the brake to operative position through spring action orthe like when the motor switch is moved to stop" the motor and de-energize the magnetic unit. The invention also includes the provision of a compact braking unit of skeletonized steel construction with a welded frame of great strengthjand relatively light weight and with the operative parts nested in closely spaced relation with small relative movement but high braking capacity of progressively increasing effectiveness. The invention also includes precision adjustment o fthe brake-shoe spacing and plane of operation, as

well as the limit of free movement of the brakeshoes, and provides broad bearing surfaces for the pivot elements to insure long service life.; The invention also includes an independently mounted operating and control unit readily replaceable on continuous service apparatus in the event of an emergency.

The principal object of the present invention is to simplify and improve the construction of braking mechanism for use on various types of apparatus, including cranes and hoisting apparatus,

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved braking mechanism consisting of few parts particularly adapted for easy assembly and installation, and readily accessible for inspection or replacement.

Another object of the invention is to provide a brake mechanism wherein a bodily removable operative unit, having an independent lever arm carrying a roller is positioned above a pair of rollers on the brake-shoe supporting levers and maybe moved against said rollers to cause spreading action thereof and movement of said levers associated with said rollers with increasing force as the independent roller proceeds along its path of movement, and compensating for the reduction in the compression of the actuating spring.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pair of brake levers carrying brake-shoes on eccentric elements adapted for ready adjustment and supporting said brake-shoes on broad bearing elements, reducing the wear upon the associated parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide brake-shoe supporting members having pivotal support of broad area and carrying roller elements at their free ends against which a pressure applying roller is engaged under predetermined conditions of operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a braking mechanism with parts formed as bellcrank levers having long leverage but compact over all dimensions.

Another object of the invention lis to provide a braking mechanism providing great strength and light weight.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combined spring tensioning and emergency brake relieving element of simple structure and readily accessible in the event of an emergency.

Other and further objects of the present invention will appear in the course of the following description.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the annexed drawing and the following description setting forth in detail certain structures and apparatus embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but several of various forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a braking mechanism embodying my invention;

Fig, 2 is an end view of the mechanism shown in Figure 1 as seen from the left-hand side;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the mechanism shown in Figure 1 as seen from the right-hand side;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary diagrammatic plan view of the mechanism with the brake-shoes and brake drum removed; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the brake-shoe adjusting mechanism.

As is clearly shown in the drawings the automatic braking mechanism may be embodied in a skeletonized structure I comprising side frames formed of pairs of angle bars welded to form rectangular side bars 2, 3, having a plurality of standards with spacing members 5. A removable frame section I 0, bolted to the main frame by pairs of bolts 4, supports a magnet housing 6, with a magnet coil l, Which preferably is connected with the motor (not shown) with which is associated the brake drum 8. The units may be variously connected but preferably the motor is in series with the magnet and the magnet when energized releases the brake-shoes from the drum, as will be presently described.

The brake-shoes II, I2, are carried on pivoted frame members I3, I4, of bell-crank shape supported between pairs of side plates or standards I5, I6, and I1, i8, respectively, welded at spaced points to the side frame bars 2, 3, and preferably having gusset plates I9. bell-crank frame members are turned toward each other and carry rollers 2I, 22, respectively, in closely spaced relation centrally between vthe side bars 2, 3. The pivots 23,24,.forthe.respective bell-crank frames are adjacent the lowerportions of their upright sections and comprise pivot pins engaged through apertures in the. upper portions of the pairs of standards I5,'f`I6;and I1, I8, respectively. The pvot pins have terminal. bars 25, 26, on one end carrying locking bolts 21, 28, H

engageable in suitable apertures .on the adjacent standards referred to, respectively. Suitable hardened bushings 29 are frictionally engaged in the bell-crank frames and are engaged over the hardened pins to reduce wear to a negligible,

bars E5, 3S, respectively, with locking bolts 31, 38,

respectively, engaging the frame members I3, I4. The pivot pins 33, Sil, revolubly support cylindrical adjusting members 4I, 42, respectively, each having an off-center or eccentric bore 43 and formed with a series of inwardly extending radial aper- 'tures 4&3 adjacent each end thereof. The brakeshoes are oi conventional arcuate shapeand have suitable friction lining 45 securedto the body of the shoe by suitable fastening means, such as Each brake-shoe Ais enlarged .centrally rivets 45. to provide a boss 41, having a transverse aperture 48, of a size to receive the cylindrical adjusting member 4I or 42, abovementioned, for spacing it from the brake drum 8.

The transverse aperture 48 ineaeh lug 41 may be in the form of a `split socket, each lug l1 mounting a suitable` bolt 49 toclamp rmlythe adjacent eccentric adjusting member at the proper angle to space the brake-,shoe a predetermined distance from the brake ,drum` 8, TheY radial apertures 465 formed in each eccentricmember 4I, 42, provide for rotation thereof by means of a bar or similar instrument .to a vposition of precise spacing or the adjacent brake-shoe from the surface of the brake drum. Adjacent the lower end of each of the brake-shoes an extension lug 5I is provided which bears against the end of. an adjusting bolt 52, screw-threadedly engaged in an extension plate 5,3 onthe central end portion of the bell-crank frame member,` which limits the pivotal movement downwardly of the brakeshoe. The U-shaped plate terminal 54 is swivelled and is used to limitupward as well as downyward movement and vibration. It-will be noted that the lateral positionof the brake-shoe on the drum as well as its spacing from the drum may be adjusted preliminary to tightening the clamping bolt 48. The means formoving the brakeshoes against the drum is provided by an independent removable frame unit, .carrying an ar- The free ends of the i 4 mature frame GI carrying an armature 60. It is provided with a pivot pin 62 held by a set-screw 63 seated against a attened area 64. The lower end of the armature frame 6I projects through an opening in the frame member I3, with its terminal roller B above the rollers 2l, 22, as shown in Fig. l. A hardened bushing 65 is frictionally engaged in the armature frame which, it will lbe noted, oscillates. the slight .distance necessary to apply or release braking pressure. At the extreme lower end of the armature frame the pressure roller 68 is carried at a central positio-n' immediately above the rollers 2I, 22, which .aremounted in closely spaced relation on the respective free-ends of the bell-crank frame members IS, I4, carrying the brake-shoes. The rollers 68, and 2|, 22, are all preferably ball- Vbearing units and are of substantial width. The roller 58 is preferably of approximately the diameter of the rollers 2|, 22, and has a path of movement between the rollers 2 I, 22. Thus, While the independent bell-crank frame unit, in the preferred form of construction, is not positively connected with the brake-shoe operating frames,

it has in, effect a toggle action against such frames increasing in effectiveness progressively with the amount of its movement and .thedegree of separation or the rollers 2l and 22. The means for .controlling the. armature frame 6I `may vary withthe structure to which it isv applied, but in the apparatus illustrated and adapted for use on cranes and hoisting apparatus, it is movedto braking position byV a compression spring 1I when the disc 5t is released by the magnet 1.

The armature frame 6I is provided at acentral position with an upright channel bar\12,.the upper end of which is formed withf,a'thro,ugh opening for one end portion of a rodV 13 formed Yof non-magnetic material and havingva screwthreaded end section on which is mounted anut 13a having a combined spring tension handlever 14 and emergency brake release. A compression spring 1I abuts-the bar 12 at one end and atits opposite end a non-magnetic washer '16 seated against a pair of springabutment nuts 11,18, engaged on the screw-threaded section ofthe rod 13. The outer end of the rod is screwthreadedly .engaged in a terminal plate 19 on thearmature housing 5, to which .it is fastened by means of va terminal nut 88. The'channel barupright 12 is preferably weldedv to the armature disk ythe magnet 1 is also energized and the armature disk is attracted thereto. As the compression spring is further compressed and the-upright bar 12 of the armature framemoves` tovward the magnet the lower end of the armature ,frame carrying the rollerGS is moved away from the rollers 2|, 22. The light tension spring then turns the bell-crank frame members I3, I4,

carrying the brake-shoes il, I2, away fromithe brake drum 3, whereby the latter operates freely until the motor is shut down.- When the current `is cut off, the magnetwill be de-energized and the compression springlII will force the arma- .tureframe away from the ma.gnet,depressing the roller 66 andforcingthev rollers 2I and 22 outwardly to operate the `upper portionsof'the bell-crank frame members I3, I4, carryingthe brake-shoes into pressure:applying movement toward the brake drum. As will be observed, the braking pressure is increased in effectiveness with the degree of movement of the roller 66 against the rollers 2|, 22. This also compensates for the reduction in pressure of the expansion spring in its movement toward a free-length position. The movement of the roller 66 is positive against the two rollers 2 l, 22, and if the associated mechanism of either roller 2i or 22 fails, the full pressure of the roller 66 will be applied to the other roller of the pair and full braking pressure thus applied through a single shoe. This differs from units which become inoperative when one unit of the pair fails.

The apparatus provides a structure of great strength and of relatively light weight. Through the use of bell-crank frame members i3, I4, with roller terminals and with the pressure applying frame nested within the brake-shoe carrying frames a very compact structure results without loss of leverage. The degree of movement of the parts, as well as the number of structural parts, is reduced to a minimum. This also facilitates the manufacture of the device and its assembly and maintenance. This is of particular importance in connection with the use of the apparatus on cranes and hoisting mechanism, where compactness and speedy dependable operation are essential.

While applicant has described one form of combination embodying the invention, it is not intended to restrict the invention to an electromagnetic braking mechanism in the broader aspects of some of the features described inasmuch as mechanical and iluid operated brakes may be used with such features to advantage.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of those explained, change being made as regards the structure and apparatus herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. A braking mechanism having in combination a frame, a brake drum, a pair of oppositely positioned, inwardly turned bell-crank levers mounted on said frame and carrying brake shoes at their upper ends and rollers at their adjacent ends normally held in spaced non-braking relation, an independent bell-crank lever mounted on said frame having a roller at its lower end adjacent said last named rollers and having means for actuating said brake shoe levers by applying pressure on said last named rollers, all of said bell-crank levers being positioned adjacent the sides and lower portions of said brake drum, and means for applying braking pressure to said brake shoe levers through toggle type action of the roller of said independent lever, and separate means for relieving said braking pressure of said independent lever to permit the brake shoes to be withdrawn from the brake drum.

2. A brake mechanism having in combination a frame, a brake drum, a pair of bell-crank levers mounted on said frame each carrying a brake shoe at its upper end and a roller at its lower end, said lower ends being adjacent each other beneath the brake drum and being normally in brake released position, an independent bellcrank lever having a pressure roller terminal ele ment at its free end in operative relation through toggle type action on the rollers at the lower ends of said brake shoe supporting levers. means for moving said independent lever in a direction to apply braking pressure to said brake shoes through said first named rollers and means for moving said independent lever in a direction for releasing said braking pressure.

3. A brake mechanism having in combination a frame, a brake drum, a pair of bell-crank levers pivotally mounted on the lower portion of said frame and carrying brake shoes on their upper arms and having their free lower ends carrying rollers closely spaced beneath said brake drum, means for normally holding said brake shoes in spaced relation to the brake drum, an independent bell-crank lever having a terminal roller element at its free end in operative relation through toggle type action on the rollers on the free ends of said brake shoe supporting levers, and separate means for moving said independent lever in a direction for applying braking pressure on said first named rollers and for releasing said braking pressure.

4. A friction brake, having in combination a frame, a brake drum, a pair of opposite inwardly turned bell-crank levers mounted on said frame, carrying brake shoes on their upstanding arms and having their free ends provided with roller terminal elements closely spaced beneath said brake drum, means for normally holding said brake shoes in spaced relation to the brake drum, an independent bell-crank lever having a roller terminal element at its free end in operative relation through toggle type action on the free ends of said brake shoe supporting levers, and separate means for moving said independent lever in each direction for applying braking pressure on said first named rollers and for releasing said braking pressure.

5. A friction brake having in combination a frame, a brake drum, a pair of bell-crank levers mounted on said frame, carrying brake shoes, having their free ends provided with roller terminal elements closely spaced beneath said brake drum, means for normally holding said brake shoes in spaced relation to the brake drum, an independent spring-pressed bell-crank lever having a roller terminal element at its free end in operative pressure-applying relation through toggle type action on the rollers on the free ends of said brake-shoe supporting levers, and anelectro-magnet for holding said independent lever roller out of braking movement against said brake-shoe lever rollers.

6. A friction brake having in combination a frame, a brake drum, a pair of brake shoe supporting elements pivotally mounted on said frame in spaced relation to said drum and having rollers at their free ends in closely spaced relation adjacent said brake drum, an independent springpressed lever means carrying a terminal roller and spring-pressed for operative braking engagement, through toggle type action with the rollers on the free ends of said brake shoe supporting elements, and separate means for moving said independent lever to cause the brake shoes to selectively engage and release said brake drum.

7. A friction brake having in combination a frame, a brake drum, a pair of brake shoes, supporting elements for said shoes pivotally mounted on said frame in spaced relation to said drum, spring means for normally holding said brake shoes in spaced relation to said drum and for holding the free ends of said supporting elements in closely spaced relation beneath said drum, rollers on the free ends of said supporting elements, an independent lever mechanism having a terminalmemberw-for' making 'operative :pressure :contacte'tlirough toggleE type. action' with'the'= rollers on the: iiree' 'ends of'.-saidfbrakeeshoesupporting elements;l a heavy springV 'mounted' 1 on 'said lever mechanism and overvbalancin'gffsaid r'st named springv .means '.for normally imoving said 'brake shoes into pressure' applying) relation to said brake drum',Y and'y separate means for retracting Isaid springto releaseftheipressure on said brake drum.

8. A 'friction brake' having iin'combi'nation a framafa brake drum, a pair of brake'shoesisupporting elements for saidy shoes pivotallyv mounted on said frame and havingfon'their'free'ends" rolle' ers in. closely spacedbr'ake sh'oe'releasing relation adjacent' 'said brake'` drum, independent lever means having a terminalroller for' operative engagement through' toggl'e=typev action 'with the rollers on the' free ends of said-'brake shoe supporting elements; and meansincluding a retract'- ingf spring; 'for moving sai'd-lindependent lever' to cause said brake shoes to selectively vengage and releas'efsaidV braker drum, andv "electro-magnetic means for overcoming said brake4 applying means andfwhereby said brakeshoe supporting elements are.' freeto` move to'. brakeerele'asing position.

9.'A 'frictionrbrake having in "combination a frame, 'a .brake'drumgsa pair of brake shoes, supporting elementsfor rsaid shoesipivotally mounted'on said frame in spaced''relationtov 'said' drum; spring. :means for normally 'holding said? `brake shoes in-spac'ed'relation' tosaid 'drum and for holding' the free ends of said supporting elements in: closely spaced relationabneath said drum, an independent lever mechanism-'having a terminal member'for' making operative pressure contact, throughtoggle type' actio'nrwithlthe free ends of said brake-shoe supportingelements, a heavy spring'mountedJ on said lever mechanism and over-balancingV said 'rir'st named "spring means for normally moving said: brake'shoesintopressure applying relation'to said brake'=drum, and electro-magnetic means to release th'epressure of.' the operative contact member of'said brake drum, wherebyusaid brake-shoe supporting ele ments are free'v tov move to' brake-releasing position."

105A friction brakehaving' in "combifn'atic'm' a framaa-brake drumya pair of brake shoes; sup'- portingelem'ents'for said'sh'oes pivotally mounted on said 'frame infspaced relation to 'said drum; spring means for' normallylholding said brake shoes in spaced relationtofsaidfdrumAand for holding. the free endsof said supporting 'elements in' closelyispaced' relation beneath said drum-,rollersv on th'e. free' ends-of said supporting elements;- anfindependent lever mechanism hav-inga terminalzmemberfor making operative'pressure' con-v tact; through toggle type' actiongfwith :the rollers' on the free endslofv said'brake Ashoe-supportingelements,. a heavy spring Amounted on said lever' mechanism'for'normally moving said' brake shoes intol 'pressureeappl-ying relation 'to' said brake' drum, and electroemagneticimeansffor allowing saidbrake'shoes to be retracted from said'drum.

11. A braking- 'mechanisrn'comprising' a frame, a brake drum and -threelevers each' independently pivotally mounted on said frame'with their'loxver ends carrying "rollers in 'closely 'spaced .relation beneath said brake drum,"a pair of' brake-shoes supported' on' two of said levers at their'free ends' on 'oppositev sides of'said brake drum, and means for moving said third independent lever to' carry th'e roller thereon into and `out. of. operative pres?. surecontact with the rollers onithe. ends of said` 8 orakel-snoer supporting levers' for' f-'movingo' "said brake-'shoes into 'and out'fof operative; engage; ment with said Vdrum.-

12. Iriabrake'mechanism, a frame,-1a'brake drum, an operative mechanism" comprising three nell-cranklevers freeof linkage' connection with each other; twoof said bell-'crank leversl support'- in-g--'brake sh'oeson their upright portions'on op; posite'lside's of' said brake drum `with theirilo'wer ends directed toward each other and havingtermi: nal 'rollersin closely' spaced relation beneath 'said brake drum, the-remaining bell-crank leverbein'g positioned' with its 'upright' portion :behind v'one of the said brake shoe supporting levers"and` its lower portion carrying 'a terminal .roller 'above said terminal rollers'on th'ebrake shoe supporting levers; the operation 'of said remaining bell-crank lever'being' arranged to move the terminal roller thereon" into and out of .pressure contact 'with the rollers" on 'said' brake shoe supporting levers, and'means 'for"operating said remaining bellcrank lever'to move the brake shoes toward and away from said brake drum.

13. `An apparatus of' the character described having in'combinatio'n a brake drum,.a support positioned adjacent' the lower' portion of said brake drum, atleast one: member pivotally. mounted on said supportand havingv a braki'ngelernent normally spaced fromsaid drum for movement to bear frictionally'against said brake drum, la roller mounted at'the freen end of. said member, a lever-mounted on'a support adjacent/saidv drum carrying 'a pressure rollerpositioned. 4 adjacent said rst-narned' roller. and. offset4 slightly7- vfrom the path of movement of said first-named roller, means' for moving said 'lever to apply pressure through said 'respective' rollers to cause braking action on said vbrake drum; and means fo'r hold,-V ing said rollers' out of braking. relation.

14.'An apparatus "of the character described having in combination a brakedrum, a support adjacent' said' brake' drum, 'a pivote'd lever carrying a brake shoe mounted on said support, a roller' at the free end 'of said. lever, spring means for normally holding said brake shoe in spacedr rela'- tion to said drum, a lever mechanism for moving. said first-named lever intov braking position, a pressure roller carried on the free end of said lever mechanism for movement into slightly'oiset operative contact with said first-named roller. spring means for actuating said lever.mechanism and means for holding said spring means in-inoperative position.

15.. A brake mechanism comprising` a frame, a brake. drum mounted on said frame, a lever fu1. crumed on said frame, a brake shoefpivotally'r supported on .one end of. said lever. for. movement thereby into engagement .with and. disengagement from said drum, a rollermounted on the vopposite end of said lever,.spring means for biasing said lever in a direction to hold-said shoe in.dis.-

engaged .relation to saidY drum,v anindependent.

lever fulcrumed on saidframeon an axis parallelto the. axis on which said rst mentioned lever ,isr fulcrumed and provided at vone end with a Contact member, that end portion of said independent lever on which said contact member'is mounted vextending linto overlapping Vrelation with the roller 'carrying end V.portion of said first. mentioned -lever to -position said contact member :in operative spaced relation to said roller,

and separate means I. for. respectively moving 'the' opposite endportion of lsaid independent lever insa direction tomove said. contactmember intoA 9 engagement with said roller to operate said rst mentioned lever in a direction to engage said brake shoe with said drum and n a direction to permit the brake shoe to be withdrawn from said drum.

RICHARD L. BROWNING.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 461,052 Shaw Oct. 13, 1891 979,720 Sundh Dec. 27, 1910 1,102,523 Lindquist et a1. July 7, 1914 Number Number 

